Quantitative and Qualitative Dimensions of Objects as Typicality Determinants
Abstract
In most of the recent categorization research the mean prototype models of categorization were, explicitly or implicitly, assumed to be more useful in the explanation of the „typicality effect” i.e. the graded structure of categories than modal prototype models. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that the usefulness of the model of categorization depends on dimensions (qualitative vs. quantitative) of classified objects. In other words, it was hypothesized that in category learning and the very categorization process, qualitative dimensions play a more important role (as determinants of typicality effect) than quantitative ones. Six experiments were carried out. Each category used in the experiments was always described in terms of two dimensions (qualitative - shape and color vs. quantitative - size and localization).
The following results were obtained:
(1) at the stage of learning categories the typicality effect is to a greater extent determined by the frequency of occurrence of the objects which have particular shape rather than by the frequency of occurrence of the objects which have a determined size, localization or color. In other words, if the classified objects differ as to their shape, then the typicality of the exemplars of a category is a function of their similarity to a modal prototype estimated with regard to this dimension. On the other hand, if the classified objects have a similar shape, but they are different as regards their size, localization and color, then the typicality of those objects is to a greater extent determined by their similarity to mean prototypes estimated for quantitative dimensions rather than by their similarity to modal prototypes. In case of stimuli categorization described by way of quantitative dimensions exclusively, both dimensions equally determine the effect of a typical character;
(2) in the process of classifying stimuli to the previously learnt categories the most important influence on the typicality of objects has their similarity to modal prototypes estimated for those quantitative and qualitative dimensions which constitute the basis of their categorization. In the experiment in question in which objects were described by way of quantitative dimensions it has been stated that any of those dimensions, i.e. size or localization, played a more basic function in the processes of forming the graded structure of categories.
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